As the process of determining the best options for liquid-waste treatment moves forward, we should continue to demand an explanation as to why the liquid-waste committee paid $17 million for a property on Viewfield Road assessed at only $13 million.
This transaction should be the subject of a thorough audit and an explanation provided to taxpayers who had no input into the purchase decision or price. In any event, when there is such a great discrepancy between value and price, particularly in a weak real-estate market, and transactions are conducted in secret by elected officials, an investigation should be conducted to provide assurance that there were no improprieties, such as less than arm’s-length relationships.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to a democratic form of government. When as has happened with this committee, the larger municipalities are able to impose their agendas on the smallest municipality, partially through questionable and secret transactions, it is a violation of that principle.
The fatal error in all of this is the structure of the committee that gives Saanich and Victoria sufficient votes to dominate all other municipalities combined. This has resulted in decisions that cannot be effectively opposed, and to a lack of due process and due diligence.
Until the committee aligns itself with the principles and spirit of a democratic form of government, this problem along with the attendant injustices and incompetence will continue.
Anton Glegg
Esquimalt
